What did the second continental congress do to formally declare the colonies free from great britain ?

They created the Declaration of Independence

The Second Continental Congress adopted the "Lee Resolution" which declared, on July2 of 1776, the establishment of a new country of "United Colonies", independent from England.

well that depends on how deep the hole is. you'd first go through te crust of the earth, then the upper mantle, then the lower mantle then the outer core, then the inner cor then you'd be stuck in the core to melt.

b) almost one million irish people died during the potato famine.